Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Taking advantage of the Republic Day holiday, residents of the city and different parts of the district stepped out on Monday and headed towards tourist destinations. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, known for its rich historical, cultural and religious heritage, witnessed an overwhelming influx of visitors at its major tourist sites throughout the day. From early morning, heavy vehicle movement, long queues at ticket counters and a bustling atmosphere were seen at these locations. More than 26,000 tourists visited various sites during the day.
Due to the crowd, visitors had to stand in long queues for tickets at Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Ellora Caves and Daulatabad (Devgiri) Fort. The rush, which began in the morning, continued until the evening. At Bibi Ka Maqbara, officials and staff, including conservation assistant of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) Sanjay Rohankar, ensured proper management. At the Ellora Caves, conservation assistant Rajesh Waklekar informed that 13,000 tourists visited the site during the day.
Arrival of foreign tourists
At the Ellora Caves, 129 foreign tourists visited, while Bibi Ka Maqbara received 35, Daulatabad Fort 21 and the Aurangabad Caves three foreign visitors. Due to the increased tourist footfall, the business of vendors selling food items and other goods also saw a rise.
Pressure on the system
The surge in visitors at tourist spots across the city and district proved to be a major challenge for the administration and tourism authorities. With over 26,000 tourists visiting historical sites in a single day, there was significant pressure on traffic management, ticketing arrangements and security. At some locations, parking facilities proved inadequate, forcing vehicles to be parked along the roadside.
Number of tourists at each site
Ellora Caves: 13,429
Bibi Ka Maqbara: 7,035
Daulatabad (Devgiri) Fort: 5,237
Aurangabad Caves: 1,203